Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants from Coursera

The objective of Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for MBAs is to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze, interpret, understand, and use financial information to make informed decisions. We will discuss financial reporting from a user’s perspective, use a variety of tools to break apart financial reports into meaningful units for analysis, forecast financial statements, and value a firm. This course is intended to give you exposure to the issues facing users of financial statements. You will better understand your role in the financial reporting process if you know how the financial statements will ultimately be used.

Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for MBAs will require you to think critically about issues for which there can be more than one “correct” answer. Hence, your analysis and conclusions must be based on sound assumptions and well-constructed analysis and arguments.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Orientation

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.

Module 1: Introduction to Financial Statements & Basic Accounting Principles

In this module, you will review financial statement and accounting basic principles.

Module 2: Basic Accounting Principles and the Differences Between Book, Intrinsic, and Market Value of Equity

In this module, you will learn the differences between the book value, intrinsic value, and market value of equity.

Module 3: Introduction to SEC filings

In this module, you will obtain an understanding of the most common SEC filings and the information included within them.

Module 4: Balance Sheet Ratio Analysis

In this module, you will gain an understanding of common financial ratios and learn how to calculate various balance sheet ratios.

Module 5: Income Statement Ratio Analysis

In this module, you will learn how to calculate various income statement ratios and how to conduct vertical and horizontal income statement analysis.

Module 6: Return Ratio Analysis

In this module, you will learn how to compute return ratios and understand their performance drivers.

Module 7 Dividend Yield and Share Buybacks

In this module, you will gain an understanding of dividend yield and its calculation, and the valuation role and implications of share buybacks,

Module 8: Accounting Quality

In this module, you will learn what is meant by accounting quality, understand why "accounting quality" matters and how to detect issues.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Ideal for MBAs who want to comprehend and use financial information for informed decision-making

Covers a wide range of concepts, including financial reporting, ratio analysis, and accounting quality

Taught by experts Brian Hamm and Nerissa C. Brown, PhD, CFE, with a proven track record in financial analysis

Involves critical thinking and analysis, challenging learners to form their own conclusions

May require external resources for a comprehensive understanding of certain advanced concepts

Assumes prior foundational knowledge in accounting principles, which may not be suitable for absolute beginners

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants with these activities:

Review basic accounting principles

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Reviewing basic accounting principles can help you understand the financial statements more easily.

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Review your notes from your introductory accounting course.
Read a book or article about basic accounting principles.
Complete a few practice problems.

Organize your notes and materials

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Organizing your notes and materials can help you study more effectively.

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Create a folder for your financial statement analysis materials.
Organize your notes by topic.
Keep copies of your practice problems and presentations.

Review Corporate Finance: Theory and Practice

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Review Corporate Finance theory to prepare for course.

View EBOOK Fundamentals of Corporate Finance on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1 to get a general overview of corporate finance.
Read Chapters 2 and 3 to review time value of money.
Read Chapters 4 and 5 to provide a review of the different types of financial securities.

Six other activities

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Read and analyze the textbook

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By studying the textbook, you can get a solid foundation in the principles of financial statement analysis.

View The Little Book of Picking Top Stocks: How to... on Amazon

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Read each chapter carefully and take notes.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Attend class and participate in discussions.

Complete practice questions on financial statement analysis

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Answering practice questions can help you test your understanding of financial statement analysis.

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Find practice questions in your textbook or online.
Complete the practice questions and check your answers.
Review the questions you answered incorrectly.

Attend a financial conference or webinar

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Attending a financial conference or webinar can help you learn more about financial statement analysis and network with other professionals.

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Find a financial conference or webinar that is relevant to financial statement analysis.
Register for the conference or webinar.
Attend the conference or webinar and take notes.
Follow up with any contacts you made at the conference or webinar.

Review notes and practice problems

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Doing practice problems can help you apply the principles of financial statement analysis and improve your understanding.

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Review your notes from class and the textbook.
Work through the practice problems in the textbook.
Attend office hours and ask questions.

Write a summary of a financial statement

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Summarizing a financial statement can help you understand the key financial data and trends.

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Choose a financial statement (e.g., balance sheet, income statement).
Identify the key financial data and trends.
Write a clear and concise summary.

Create a presentation on a financial ratio

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Creating a presentation on a financial ratio can help you understand how to calculate and interpret financial ratios.

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Choose a financial ratio (e.g., current ratio, debt-to-equity ratio).
Calculate the financial ratio using data from a financial statement.
Interpret the financial ratio and explain its significance.

Career center

Learners who complete Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts interpret and prepare financial reports used by various individuals including investors, creditors, and company management. Many Financial Analysts work in the investment banking field. This course helps prepare for a career as a Financial Analyst by providing training on how to interpret and analyze financial statements. These skills are critical for the duties of a Financial Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Equity Research Analyst

Equity Research Analysts produce investment research and make recommendations on stocks and companies. Understanding how to analyze firm financial statements is a critical component to this role. This course helps build a foundation and prepare for a career as an Equity Research Analyst by helping students understand and interpret financial statements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Equity Research Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers typically provide advice on corporate actions such as mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and private placements of debt and equity. Understanding how to analyze firm financial statements is a critical component to Investment Banking. This course helps build a foundation and prepare for a career as an Investment Banker by helping students understand and interpret financial statements.

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Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers make investment decisions for a portfolio of assets, which may include stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments. Understanding how to analyze firm financial statements is a critical component to Portfolio Management. This course helps build a foundation and prepare for a career as a Portfolio Manager by helping students understand and interpret financial statements.

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Auditor

Auditors examine and evaluate financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulations. Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants may be useful for an Auditor as it provides valuable training in how to analyze and interpret financial information, aiding in the assessment of a company's financial health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Credit Analyst

Credit Analysts assess the creditworthiness of individuals or companies seeking loans or other forms of credit. This course may be useful for Credit Analysts as it provides training in how to analyze financial statements, assisting in the evaluation of a borrower's financial health and ability to repay debt.

See salaries and explore the career path for Credit Analyst

Consultant

Consultants provide expert advice and guidance to businesses and organizations. Understanding how to analyze firm financial statements can be a valuable asset for a consultant, especially for those working on projects related to finance, strategy, or operations. This course can help consultants develop the skills needed to analyze and interpret financial information, equipping them to provide more informed advice to clients.

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Financial Planner

Financial Planners help individuals and families plan for their financial future by providing guidance on investments, retirement planning, and other financial matters. Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants may be useful for Financial Planners as it provides valuable training in how to analyze and interpret financial information, aiding in the development of sound financial plans for clients.

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Budget Analyst

Budget Analysts help organizations plan and manage their financial resources. This course may be useful for Budget Analysts as it provides training in how to analyze financial statements and evaluate the financial performance of an organization. This knowledge can assist Budget Analysts in making informed decisions about resource allocation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Budget Analyst

Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants specialize in tax laws and regulations and help individuals and organizations comply with tax requirements. Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants may be useful for Tax Accountants as it provides valuable training in how to analyze and interpret financial information, aiding in the preparation of accurate tax returns and advising clients on tax matters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tax Accountant

Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify, assess, and manage financial risks for organizations. Understanding how to analyze firm financial statements can be a valuable asset for a Risk Manager, as it helps in assessing the financial health of an organization and identifying potential risks. This course can help Risk Managers develop the skills needed to analyze and interpret financial information, enabling them to make informed decisions about risk management strategies.

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Forensic Accountant

Forensic Accountants investigate financial crimes and provide expert testimony in legal proceedings. Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants may be useful for Forensic Accountants as it provides valuable training in how to analyze and interpret financial information, aiding in the detection and investigation of financial fraud and other financial crimes.

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Internal Auditor

Internal Auditors evaluate the internal controls and financial reporting of an organization. Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants may be useful for Internal Auditors, as it provides valuable training in how to analyze and interpret financial information. This knowledge can assist Internal Auditors in identifying and assessing risks within an organization's financial reporting process.

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Compliance Officer

Compliance Officers ensure that organizations comply with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies. Understanding how to analyze firm financial statements can be a valuable asset for a Compliance Officer, as it helps in assessing an organization's financial health and identifying potential compliance risks. This course can help Compliance Officers develop the skills needed to analyze and interpret financial information, enabling them to make informed decisions about compliance strategies.

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Financial Controller

Financial Controllers oversee the financial operations of an organization, including financial planning, budgeting, and accounting. Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants may be useful for Financial Controllers as it provides valuable training in how to analyze and interpret financial information, aiding in the management of the organization's financial resources.

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Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for Accountants

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